PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Gardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 50 Cent-Many Men. Connor Gardner will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Smith
vs
Gardner

195 cm
23
192 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

175 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Connor Gardner!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gardner tries to clinch up.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith throws a head kick but Gardner moves out of range.
Gardner doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Gardner moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Gardner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gardner blocks a head kick by Smith.
Gardner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Gardner.
Gardner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Gardner tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Gardner wants to clinch.
Gardner is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Gardner should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a series of punches but Gardner moves out of range.
Gardner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gardner tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gardner.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gardner avoids the head kick by Smith.
Gardner takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Gardner clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
Gardner is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gardner softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gardner has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.
Gardner is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Gardner is controlling the position.
Gardner lands with a right to the head.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
A short body shot lands from Gardner as the two fighters clinch.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Gardner blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
The is referee keeping an eye on Gardner - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gardner blocks a head kick by Smith.
Gardner takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gardner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Gardner fails to land the takedown.
Smith goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Gardner.

Gardner rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gardner lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smith backwards.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Gardner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a head kick. Gardner smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gardner shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Gardner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Marcus Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Gardner.
Gardner looks gassed!
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Gardner avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Gardner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The fight stays on the outside here - Gardner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gardner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Gardner has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Gardner keeps him there for the moment.
Smith wants to break free but Gardner has control.
Smith with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith lands a high kick!
Gardner fails with the takedown.
Smith lands a high kick!
Marcus Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gardner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Smith looks to land a combination. Gardner sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a high kick!
Smith throws a head kick but Gardner moves out of range.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Gardner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Smith throws a head kick but Gardner moves out of range.
Gardner takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gardner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
A head kick misses from Smith.
Gardner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gardner is looking to clinch.
Smith scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Smith's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smith duly obliges.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Smith throws a head kick that Gardner semi-blocks.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!
Gardner doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith lands a head kick!
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gardner's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gardner's head.
Gardner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith connects with a high kick.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Marcus Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gardner's head.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith lands a high kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gardner wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gardner blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith lands a head kick!
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Smith scores with a head kick.
Gardner takes a kick to the side of the head.
A head kick from Smith lands but Gardner takes it in his stride.
Gardner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gardner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
A head kick from Smith lands but Gardner takes it in his stride.
Gardner swinging wilding here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Smith dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith connects with a high kick.
Gardner moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gardner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gardner tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Gardner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Smith throws a head kick but Gardner moves out of range.
Gardner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gardner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardner tries to clinch up.
Gardner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Smith throws a head kick that Gardner semi-blocks.
Gardner tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Marcus Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Gardner wants to clinch.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a head kick!
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gardner.
Gardner stalks Smith and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Smith's face. Smith staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Marcus Smith has been cut.
Gardner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith lands a high kick!
Gardner misses with a head kick.

Gardner takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Gardner keeps him there for the moment.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gardner looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
Smith has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gardner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Smith throws a right and a left that Gardner avoids nicely.
Smith throws a head kick that Gardner semi-blocks.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gardner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gardner scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Smith goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gardner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Marcus Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Gardner.
Gardner is breathing heavily.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Gardner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Gardner moves out of range easily.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gardner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith connects with a high kick.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gardner is trying desperately to land a takedown but Smith is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Gardner.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gardner's head.
Gardner avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Marcus Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gardner takes a kick to the side of the head.
Smith goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Gardner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Gardner moves out of range easily.
Gardner takes a kick to the side of the head.
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Gardner misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smith.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Smith connects with a high kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smith!
Gardner takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith lands a head kick!
Smith lands a head kick. Gardner smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gardner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gardner.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gardner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gardner wants to clinch.
A left and a right from Smith both land. Nice combination.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw.
Smith scores with the left hand. Gardner knows he should have avoided that one.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Smith throws a head kick that Gardner semi-blocks.
Smith throws a head kick that Gardner semi-blocks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick that Gardner semi-blocks.
Smith scores with a head kick.
Gardner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith is working the combinations to good effect here.
Gardner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Gardner avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gardner's head.
Smith is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gardner is looking to clinch.
Smith plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gardner's head.
Gardner gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Gardner moves out of range easily.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Smith lands a high kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith scores with a head kick.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gardner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A punch lands to the side of Gardner 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gardner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Smith goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gardner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Smith's cut.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith throws a combination. Gardner tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Gardner tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Gardner moves out of range easily.
Gardner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gardner tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith connects with a high kick.
Smith throws a lazy head kick

and Gardner counters by clinching up.
Smith lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Gardner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gardner is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Gardner scores a takedown into full mount!
Smith is trying to escape the mount.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Gardner's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardner sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gardner can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.
Smith really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gardner controlling from the full mount.
Smith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gardner takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gardner tries to control but Smith wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Connor Gardner just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gardner tries to clinch up.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gardner throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Gardner moves out of range easily.

Gardner takes the fight into the clinch.
Gardner cracks Smith with a nice body shot.

Smith breaks the clinch.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gardner avoids the head kick by Smith.
Gardner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gardner wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith throws a head kick but Gardner moves out of range.
Gardner misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Gardner doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Gardner.
A head kick from Smith lands but Gardner takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardner is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Gardner doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Gardner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith scores with a head kick.
Gardner tries to clinch up.
No joy there for Gardner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Gardner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gardner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gardner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connor Gardner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gardner tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Gardner tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Gardner avoids the head kick by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gardner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith walks into a left hand.
Gardner fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Gardner moves out of range easily.
Gardner shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
Marcus Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Gardner.
Smith throws a head kick that half lands.
No joy there for Gardner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gardner takes a kick to the side of the head.
Smith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gardner tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Gardner wants to clinch.
Smith lands a head kick. Gardner smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gardner misses with a double jab.
Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gardner's head.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gardner.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Gardner moves out of range easily.
Smith scores with the left hand. Gardner knows he should have avoided that one.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Gardner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gardner tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Gardner has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Smith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gardner.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Gardner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Smith scores with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcus Smith.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smith, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Smith!